Hearing in the Matter of Baker Resentencing Has Been Reset

A hearing originally scheduled for today in the matter of resentencing of a Fayette County man convicted of murder has been reset. Clifford W. Baker was convicted in 2011 in the deaths of John Michael Mahon and Debra Tish as well as the home invasion of Steve and Randi Krajefska that occurred on August 4, 2010. Baker was sentenced to serve natural life in prison for each count of murder and 30 years in prison for home invasion. Due to a U.S Supreme Court’s ruling that states an mandatory natural life sentence on a person under 18 violates the 8th amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment the case was remanded back to Fayette County Court after being reviewed by the appellate court who affirmed part of and vacated part of the original sentencing. Baker appeared in Fayette County Court on December 15, 2015 for a hearing in which Public Defender Ed Potter was appointed as counsel for Baker and another hearing on the matter was set for today at 1pm. However, in a conference call between the State’s Attorney’s office and Baker’s counsel Monroe McWard and Ed Potter, it was requested by Baker’s counsel that they be granted more time. Another conference call has been scheduled for February 22 at which time it is expected that a new sentencing hearing date will be set.